Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday announced a Rs 400-crore relief package for Andhra Pradesh farmers to defuse political tensions in the state.
Telugu Desam Party president Chandrababu Naidu had been on a hunger strike since December 17 demanding adequate compensation to farmers. His health had deteriorated significantly yesterday and he was shifted to the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad.
Andhra Pradesh had experienced devastating floods, following heavy rains. The Opposition leader wanted Rs 10,000 per acre compensation for food crop and Rs 15,000 for commercial crop damaged in the rains.
Former Congress MP from Kadapa YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also launched a 48-hour hunger strike with the same demand. The state had sent 33 MPs to the Lok Saba out of 42, in the 2009 elections, making it account for the largest chunk from a state for the party in the Lok Sabha.
